حَدَّثَنَا
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا
شُعْبَةُ ، عَنْ
الْأَزْرَقِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ ، قَالَ : كَانَ
أَبُو بَرْزَةَ بِالْأَهْوَازِ , عَلَى جَرْفِ نَهْرٍ ، وَقَدْ جَعَلَ
اللِّجَامَ فِي يَدِهِ ، وَجَعَلَ يُصَلِّي ، فَجَعَلَتْ الدَّابَّةُ تَنْكُصُ وَجَعَلَ يَتَأَخَّرُ مَعَهَا ، فَجَعَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ الْخَوَارِجِ يَقُولُ : اللَّهُمَّ اخْزِ هَذَا الشَّيْخَ ، كَيْفَ يُصَلِّي ! فَلَمَّا صَلَّى , قَالَ : " قَدْ سَمِعْتُ مَقَالَتَكُمْ ، غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سِتًّا ، أَوْ سَبْعًا ، أَوْ ثَمَانِيًا ، فَشَهِدْتُ أَمْرَهُ وَتَيْسِيرَهُ ، فَكَانَ رُجُوعِي مَعَ دَابَّتِي أَهْوَنَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ تَرْكِهَا ، فَتَنْزِعُ إِلَى مَأْلَفِهَا فَيَشُقُّ عَلَيَّ , وَصَلَّى أَبُو بَرْزَةَ الْعَصْرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ " .
Azraq bin Qais (may Allah have mercy on him) says that once Hazrat Abu Barzah Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) was at the bank of a canal in the city of Ahwaz. He was holding the reins of his mount in his hand, and during this time, he began to pray. Suddenly, his animal started moving backward on its heels, and Hazrat Abu Barzah (may Allah be pleased with him) also kept moving backward along with it. Seeing this, a man from among the Khawarij said, "O Allah! Disgrace this old man, how is he praying?" After finishing the prayer, he (Hazrat Abu Barzah) said, "I heard what you said. I have participated in six, seven, or eight battles with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and I have seen the Prophet's dealings and his leniencies. For me to take my animal back with me is easier and better than to leave it and let it run away to its place, causing me trouble." And Hazrat Abu Barzah (may Allah be pleased with him) performed two rak'ahs of Asr prayer (because he was a traveler).